October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826
Political Party: Federalist
Terms of Office: March 4, 1797 - March 4, 1801 (1 term)
Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801)
George Washington set high expectations for the upcoming presidents for the new country, the United States of America. After Washington stepped down, John Adams was left to take the position, "President of the United States". If John Adams and his administration were to be graded, they would receive a B+, mainly for keeping peace with the French.
John Adams had a number of goals that he announced at his inaugural address in 1797. The first of which being to maintain peace with all nations. Adams claimed "Neutrality among the belligerent powers of Europe". Among Adam's goals was one to continue the famous George Washington's policies. Another goal of Adam's was to preserve Franco-American friendship and to keep esteem for the French.
John Adam's relationship with congress was exceptional. Adams never vetoed a bill in his term of office. However, the majority of both houses of congress shared Adam's political party. Although Adams rarely disagreed with the senate, he was a very stubborn, isolated individual, even from his own cabinet. An example of this is when he learned of the XYZ Affairs he refused to release the diplomatic dispatches until a later time. Also, he was pressured and advised to go to war with France, but Adams did not listen and insisted on peace.
The way John Adams handled the XYZ Affairs resulted in his most positive outcome during his presidency. When John Adams took office the relations were not the greatest with the French. In hopes to restore them, Adams sent men to Paris to resolve the differences, but the French foreign minister refused to even meet with them. Instead the foreign minister sent three men to demand $250,000 from America to consider to negotiate with them. Furious, Adams prepared an military for war. America was eager and pushed for war, but seeking for peace, Adams tried to negotiate one more time with the French. Favorably for Adams and America, this time it worked. In 1799 tension between the United States and French were successfully loosened. The way John Adams handled the French was by far his best accomplishment because it kept peace, which growing at the time, the United States needed. If America had fought with the French they would be severely weakened. Also, fighting with the French might have caused France not to pass the Louisiana Purchase.
The worst choice John Adams made as president was the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, when Adams signed four bills. These acts made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens and allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. This seemed unnecessary and too harsh on immigrants. The worst of the acts was the Sedition Act. This act was passed to punish anyone who writes, prints, or publishes anything scandalous or malicious against the U.S. with the intent to defame or disrepute them. Many thought this act violated their freedom of speech. The Acts were unnecessary and unpopular, and were Adam's worst decision.
John Adam's decision to stay peaceful with the French impacted the lives of many future generations. Avoiding war, Adams saved thousands of lives that later became fathers or grandfathers. Also if Adams were to go into war, The French may not have passed the Louisiana Purchase with America, due to bad relations. Without the land, it is no doubt how America and it's citizens would be different in their history. Adam's opened the door for Jefferson to go on with the Purchase. Adam's decision to negotiate instead of fight also benefited America by securing safety. If America was to fight, it may have lost. During their early stages, they needed to be as peaceful as possible and avoid war, which is exactly what John Adams did.
America was a better country after John Adam's term. Adding up Adam's positive and negative decisions, his term deserves a B+. Keeping peace with France was vital to America. If Adams was not president of the United States, America could not be where it is today.
Bibliography
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Ed. Sandra Lee. Stuart. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.
Magill, Frank N., John L. Loos, and Tracy Irons-Georges. The American Presidents. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2000. Print.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.
John Adams
October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826Political Party: Federalist
Terms of Office: March 4, 1797 - March 4, 1801 (1 term)
Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801)
George Washington set high expectations for the upcoming presidents for the new country, the United States of America. After Washington stepped down, John Adams was left to take the position, "President of the United States". If John Adams and his administration were to be graded, they would receive a B+, mainly for keeping peace with the French.
John Adams had a number of goals that he announced at his inaugural address in 1797. The first of which being to maintain peace with all nations. Adams claimed "Neutrality among the belligerent powers of Europe". Among Adam's goals was one to continue the famous George Washington's policies. Another goal of Adam's was to preserve Franco-American friendship and to keep esteem for the French.
John Adam's relationship with congress was exceptional. Adams never vetoed a bill in his term of office. However, the majority of both houses of congress shared Adam's political party. Although Adams rarely disagreed with the senate, he was a very stubborn, isolated individual, even from his own cabinet. An example of this is when he learned of the XYZ Affairs he refused to release the diplomatic dispatches until a later time. Also, he was pressured and advised to go to war with France, but Adams did not listen and insisted on peace.
The way John Adams handled the XYZ Affairs resulted in his most positive outcome during his presidency. When John Adams took office the relations were not the greatest with the French. In hopes to restore them, Adams sent men to Paris to resolve the differences, but the French foreign minister refused to even meet with them. Instead the foreign minister sent three men to demand $250,000 from America to consider to negotiate with them. Furious, Adams prepared an military for war. America was eager and pushed for war, but seeking for peace, Adams tried to negotiate one more time with the French. Favorably for Adams and America, this time it worked. In 1799 tension between the United States and French were successfully loosened. The way John Adams handled the French was by far his best accomplishment because it kept peace, which growing at the time, the United States needed. If America had fought with the French they would be severely weakened. Also, fighting with the French might have caused France not to pass the Louisiana Purchase.
The worst choice John Adams made as president was the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, when Adams signed four bills. These acts made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens and allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. This seemed unnecessary and too harsh on immigrants. The worst of the acts was the Sedition Act. This act was passed to punish anyone who writes, prints, or publishes anything scandalous or malicious against the U.S. with the intent to defame or disrepute them. Many thought this act violated their freedom of speech. The Acts were unnecessary and unpopular, and were Adam's worst decision.
John Adam's decision to stay peaceful with the French impacted the lives of many future generations. Avoiding war, Adams saved thousands of lives that later became fathers or grandfathers. Also if Adams were to go into war, The French may not have passed the Louisiana Purchase with America, due to bad relations. Without the land, it is no doubt how America and it's citizens would be different in their history. Adam's opened the door for Jefferson to go on with the Purchase. Adam's decision to negotiate instead of fight also benefited America by securing safety. If America was to fight, it may have lost. During their early stages, they needed to be as peaceful as possible and avoid war, which is exactly what John Adams did.
America was a better country after John Adam's term. Adding up Adam's positive and negative decisions, his term deserves a B+. Keeping peace with France was vital to America. If Adams was not president of the United States, America could not be where it is today.
Bibliography
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Ed. Sandra Lee. Stuart. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.
Magill, Frank N., John L. Loos, and Tracy Irons-Georges. The American Presidents. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2000. Print.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.
"John Adams." The White House. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams>.